No-Shave November Is Here To Raise Well-Needed Awareness On Prostate Cancer In Malta
No-Shave November, and a separate yet very similar campaign ‘Movember’, is here as part of a November tradition to raise awareness on prostate cancer, other cancers and men’s physical and mental health in general.
Men (and even women) are encouraged to throw away their razors and let their hair grow wild and free during the whole month to evoke questioning, and therefore discussion. It is meant to be a symbolic acknowledgement of cancer patients, many of whom lose their hair during treatment and are unable to let it grow free.
The money saved from razors and trips to the barber is then donated to anti-cancer organisations. Since 2009, No Shave November has raised some $3.5 million in collaboration with Prevent Cancer Foundation, Fight Colorectal Cancer, and the American Cancer Society.
Prostate cancer is one of the most invasive cancers in men, with studies showing that 1 in 8 men develop it, however awareness is still lacking.
An independent international survey,with some 1,400 participants, was recently held in some European countries and the US to ‘’assess the level of awareness of prostate cancer among the general public in Europe and the USA.”
Participants were questioned about types of cancers, with results showing that while 79% of female participants displayed awareness of breast cancer, only 39% of men referred to prostate cancer.
Only half of the participants were aware of how to detect prostate cancer, and when to get scanned.
This survey spotlights the need for schools and campaigns to spread more awareness, including schools and campaigns in Malta.
It is more likely for men to get prostate cancer, if they have a family history of breast, ovarian, or prostate cancers, due to an inherited gene mutation linked to these cancers.
If you do have any impacted family members, you should start getting scanned at the age of 40; the examination is done by taking a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam.
It is hard to detect this cancer in its early stages, however symptoms such as difficulty/frequent urinating, and pelvic and bone pain are common in its advanced stages. If you experience any of these symptoms you should also get tested for it.
Why is there so little publicity about prostate cancer?
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